Ronald Richard Esau[1] (October 9, 1954 – January 24, 2022) was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who competed from 1975 to 1990.[2]
Ron Esau | |||||||
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Born | Lakeside, California, U.S. | October 9, 1954||||||
Died | January 24, 2022 | (aged 67)||||||
Awards | West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2022) | ||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
17 races run over 10 years | |||||||
Best finish | 62nd (1984) | ||||||
First race | 1975 Winston Western 500 Riverside | ||||||
Last race | 1990 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Richmond) | ||||||
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
6 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Best finish | 43rd (1995) | ||||||
First race | 1995 Jerr Dan / Nelson 150 (Evergreen) | ||||||
Last race | 1997 Carquest Auto Parts 420K (Las Vegas) | ||||||
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Career
editThe primary vehicle for this driver was the No. 56 Marc Reno-owned Gear Vendor Chevrolet.[3] He completed 1,704 laps - the equivalent of 3,425.5 miles (5,512.8 km) of racing - while picking up eight DNQs in the process.[2] Esau started in an average of 31st place and finished in an average of 30th place; keeping him near the rear of the average racing grid.[2] His total career earnings are $44,290.[2]
Even though he acquired a 17-race winless streak throughout his entire career as a NASCAR driver, Esau climbed as high in the championship rankings to 62nd place in the 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season in addition to falling as low as 114th place in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship standings.[3]
In February 1988, Esau drove in the first ever NASCAR sanctioned stock car race held outside of North America when he was one of 32 starters in the Goodyear NASCAR 500 held at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia. Driving in place of the critically injured Jim Robinson with all proceeds (including Esau s driving fee) going to the Jim Robinson Fund to help with medical bills, Esau's Oldsmobile Delta 88 started 5th, qualifying at 138.200 mph. For the first half of the race, Esau was able to avoid the predicted wrecks and was among the leaders, swapping the lead many times with regular Winston Cup stars Neil Bonnett and Bobby Allison. However his race was over on lap 160 (of 280) with engine failure.
Since 2013, Esau has operated a racing team in the independent circuits of stock cars that feature the old V8 engines that are rarely used in major league motorsports anymore.[4]
Personal life and death
editEsau was married to Marsha; they had one son. He worked as a mentor to young stock car drivers like Brandon Whitt and Brendan Gaughan. Occasional jobs that Esau did after his NASCAR career include stints as the head driving instructor for Drivetech Racing School and doing fundraisers for people with various handicaps.[citation needed] Ron died on January 24, 2022, at the age of 67.[5]
Motorsports career results
editNASCAR
edit(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Winston Cup Series
editDaytona 500
editYear | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | DNQ |
Craftsman Truck Series
editNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | NCTSC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||
1995 | Ken Schrader Racing | 52 | Chevy | PHO | TUS | SGS | MMR | POR | EVG 9 |
43rd | 427 | [17] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Walker Evans Racing | 26 | Dodge | I70 26 |
LVL | BRI | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28 | MLW 29 |
CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | RCH | MAR | NWS | SON | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bunce Engineering | 63 | Chevy | MMR 20 |
PHO DNQ |
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1997 | Bunce Engineering | 9 | Chevy | WDW | TUS | HOM | PHO | POR | EVG | I70 | NHA | TEX | BRI | NZH | MLW | LVL | CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | NSV | GLN | RCH | MAR | SON | MMR 20 |
CAL DNQ |
PHO | LVS 22 |
73rd | 249 | [18] |
Winston West Series
editARCA Hooters SuperCar Series
edit(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | AHSSC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||||||
1992 | 26 | Olds | DAY | FIF | TWS 6 |
TAL | TOL | KIL | POC | MCH | FRS | KIL | NSH | DEL | POC | HPT 30 |
FRS | ISF | TOL | DSF | TWS DNQ |
SLM | ATL | 87th | - | [39] | ||||||||||||||||||
1993 | Spears Motorsports | 75W | Chevy | DAY | FIF | TWS 7 |
TAL | KIL | CMS | FRS | TOL | POC | MCH | FRS | POC | KIL | ISF | DSF | TOL | SLM | WIN | ATL | NA | 0 | [40] |
References
edit- ^ "Ronald Richard Esau, Born 10/09/1954 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ron Esau Career Statistics at Racing Reference
- ^ a b Ron Esau racing information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
- ^ Ron Esau Racing at Esau.com
- ^ "Ron Esau, the 1986 NASCAR Southwest Tour late model champion, passes away at 67". Arca Racing. January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1975 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1977 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1982 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1983 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1984 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1985 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1986 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1987 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1988 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1989 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1990 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1991 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1993 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1995 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1998 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Ron Esau – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
External links
edit- Official website
- Ron Esau driver statistics at Racing-Reference